Happy NAD (New Amp Day) ! My 3rd ENGL amp head was just arrived !
Here is my ENGL Powerball II (E645/2).
NEW EVOLUTION from Powerball V1/V2 to
Powerball II.
The differences between "Old Ball", Powerball version V1 and V2 -
a) The treble control of lead channel on V2 was altered from linear to logarithmic curve.
b) Improve noise gate on V2.
c) The LEDs inside the head are more red on V2.
Now the
"New Ball", Powerball II has
4 independent gain controls from each channel.
It comes with
BLACK facelift and a
RED color power switch (instead of orange color on "Old Ball").
According to ENGL website, there are also
special built transformers for Powerball II
to having
richer harmonics and faster picking attack which is better for cutting through
on any stage or recording situation.
The ENGL Powerball II was introduced since Winter NAMM show 2010.
Powerball II offers more tone, more control, and more options than ever before!
1) Separate Gain controls for each channel,
->
YES. Let the Powerball II becomes a "truely" 4 channels amp during live show.
The "New Ball" comes with separate gain controls and solid
BLACK facelift,
Who will interest with "Old Ball" anymore ?! That's why it was discontinued.
Ch1. Typical ENGL clean tone. Some people hate it.
Ch2. Low gain Crunchy !
Ch3. Typical ENGL modern higain tone. Many ENGL fans love it.
Ch4. Just like Ch3 with little bit higher gain and more bite towards hi mid-frequency voicing.
2) Remote controllable, switchable FX Loop,
->
YES. That's a good improvement. Thanks, ENGL amps !
->
NO. With that price, the new Powerball still isn't MIDI capable as "Old Ball",
even though the Z5 footswitch port was replaced by Z9 MIDI footswitch port for better overall control.
ENGL pedals are great, but they're expensive too ! Ripping off my money again ! LOL
3) Middle-boosted sound option,
->
YES. Better mid voicing. Even with the extreme mid-scooped setting (below 9 o'clock),
I still can hear the FULL HD grind tone ! LOL ... "New Ball cuts thru the mix better than Old Ball ?!"
I hope my Powerball II will be like exactly what they say. Will test it during band rehearsal soon.
4) New improved tube monitoring system.
->
HHHMMMmmmm ... No difference to me. LOL
S.A.C (Serial Amp Control) port for ENGL Z9 footswitch.
Special built transformers ?
For rich harmonics and fast attack to cut through on any stage or recording situation.
Standard ENGL tube task chart
Using 4 gain stages to create such superb higain tone. Thank you, Horst Langer !
TAD 6L6GC powertubes (Chinese 6L6GC, relabeled by ENGL).
ENGL relabel ECC83 tubes look and sound exactly like Chinese 12AX7 to me.
My new Powerball II with my beloved Mesa/Boogie Mark V.
Tight and brutal as my Mark V, but they are totally different. Powerball is
COMPRESSED type of tightness to me.
My
ENGL Invader does sound more organic and breathe than Powerball II.
The new artist signature model from ENGL year 2011 -
Victor Smolski Limited Edition (E646)
which is based on the circuit design of ENGL new Powerball II.
I have played the Victor Smolski model.
It has slightly saturated tone in both Ch.3 and Ch.4 which probably due to higher gain level.
Other than that, I hear no difference between Victor Smolski model and Powerball II.
Powerball II --> Victor Smolski model
Invader --> Steve Morse model
Savage --> Ritchie Blackmore model
Why did Victor Smolski need more gain on his signature model ?
As an Invader owner, you know
when the "higain mode" is enganged,
the gain level on Invader is boosted and a lot more than Powerball can be.
Even the noise gate nearly can't handle the noise from the Ch4 of Invader with maxinium gain under "higain mode".
I think Victor Smolski maybe wants Powerball can be comparable with the Invader.
Unlike the Powerball II, they took off the "Bright and Bottom" buttons on E646.
If I were Victor Smolski, I'd probably ask ENGL to remove the USELESS
"Bottom" buttons on Ch3 and Ch4,
they are still too BOOMY even with the "Depth Punch" reduced.
Directly integrate both "Bright and Bottom tone character" into Ch1 and Ch2
and removing another two
un-footswitchable control buttons.
